1
The beginning of my sporting career is probably quite different from what you might think. Not that I didn't like sports as a child, I tried a number of sports from gymnastic, footbal (soccer), table tenis and karate, but I didn't show much talent for any of those sports. That is until I sat on the bike! It was pretty late at the age of 17, but I felt right away that this was it. Still, nobody would have believed at that time that this guy would do something in cycling, let alone setting the World Records and winning World Championships...
It was a love at first sight. I have done some longer rides before joining my first cycling club (like riding from my grandma's house in velenje to our home in Ljubljana - 85km for which I needed the whole 6 hours;). Even though the start in racing was hard at first, my hunger for testing the limits of my capabilities started growing inside of me. Bike gave me the new found confidence, as for the first time in my life (outside of school) I felt that nobody can match me. When I sat on my bike, my shyness dissapeared and I became a new Marko. I was never a serial winner as I was not a good sprinter, but with my power I decided lots of races helping my teammates to victories.
With my career as road racer was nearing the end, my wish to test myself at RAAM started growing. Since the day I found out about it (in the early 90s), I felt that this was a race made for me. Even though it was not possible to do it during my career (because of other racing commitments), a dream burned in me.
CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RAAM
Race across America in a unique extreme endurance cycling race in which you have to cycle from West to East Coast of USA the fastest you can, without ever stopping the stopwatch. RAAM is around 3000 miles long race that takes place every summer from 1982 when four enthusiasts decided to race from Santa Monica to New York. The first race was called Great American Bike Race (GABR), but the next year they renamed it to RAAM. THe four pioneers of RAAM were: Lon Haldeman (the winner of first two editions), John Howard, Michael Shermer and John Marino. What started as a strange idea of four friends, became the biggest endurance cycle race on the planet. In 1993 the Outside Magazine gathered a group of experts to declare which is the hardest sporting event in the World. With the factors li ethe “Mule Factor”-the distances involved; the ”Forum”-how tough the course is; the “Anguish Index”-how hard the competitors “have to work to convince themselves that what they’re doing is only mildly inane and self-destructive;” and the “O Factor”-a combination of the cost to do the event and the drop out rate, the jury decided RAAM was the most difficult one, "winning" over Vendee Globe Around-the-World Sailing Race and Iditarod Sled Dog Race. In the first 8 most difficult sporting events were also Badwater marath through Death Valley and Hawaian Ironman Triathlon.
From year 2000, when I first set the RAAM qualification, I raced RAAM nine times - eight times as solo competitor (2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2017) and once in a two-person team with Tomaz Percic (2008).
Theodore Roosevelt:
I am looking for TIME STATION SPONSORS to help me with the RAAM expenses. If you have no time to do RAAM, you can become involved with >buying< yourself a Time Station and helping me achieve my goal.
There are 54 Time Stations across the USA and at every Time Station we must call in my arrival. Every TS means the next step in a long way across the USA. My team will use all the strength, energy, will and teamwork to help me make it to the finish line as fast as I can. You can become a part of my Team with making a donation and picking for yourself a Time Station you want to sponsor. When I pass you TS, we will send you an e-mail letting you know where I am and how fast I am progressing.
If everything goes according to plan, I should be fast enough to better my 2013 result by 3h, which means getting under 9 days crossing. With the fierce competition in 2013, I don't want to predict anything, only that I will give my best and try to come as close to 8 days as possible. You will also get the postcard from Finishline letting you know the achieved result.
The price of the Time Stations is as follows:
- normal TS: 100EUR or 130$,
- Start, Finish and half-way (Pratt, Kansas): 500EUR or 650$.
Your logo will be posted on www.markobaloh.com in the RAAM 2013 TS sponors spread sheet with the link to your company's website.
E-mail me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and reserve your Time station. You can make a donation through PayPal to the aformentioned e-mail
No. TS |
Time stop (TS) |
TS-TS (km) |
TOTAL (km) |
Sponsor TS |
START | Oceanside,CA | 0 | 0 | |
1 | Lake Henshaw, CA | 86,0 | 86,0 | |
2 | Brawley, CA | 142,3 | 228,4 | |
3 | Blythe , CA | 144,2 | 372,6 | |
4 | Parker, AZ | 82,6 | 455,2 | |
5 | Salome, AZ | 90,1 | 545,2 | |
6 | Congress, AZ | 84,7 | 629,9 | |
7 | Prescott, AZ | 80,7 | 710,6 | |
8 | Cottonwood, AZ | 66,3 | 777,0 | |
9 | Flagstaff, AZ | 85,6 | 862,6 | |
10 | Tuba City, AZ | 115,4 | 978,0 | Tina Waitzman |
11 | Kayenta, AZ | 115,6 | 1.093,6 | Nenad Gregec |
12 | Mexican Hat, UT | 71,8 | 1.165,4 | Marko Mastrović |
13 | Montezuma Crk, UT | 63,7 | 1.229,1 | |
14 | Cortez, CO | 80,7 | 1.309,8 | posvetu.si |
15 | Durango, CO | 70,2 | 1.380,0 | Cindy Arnold |
16 | Pagosa Springs, CO | 112,3 | 1.492,3 | |
17 | South Fork, CO | 77,0 | 1.569,3 | @jeanmark00 |
18 | Alamosa, CO | 75,0 | 1.644,3 | Hisni aparati d.o.o. |
19 | La Veta, CO | 93,7 | 1.738,0 | |
20 | Trinidad, CO | 104,7 | 1.842,7 | |
21 | Kim, CO | 114,6 | 1.957,3 | Shona Donovan |
22 | Walsh, OK | 110,0 | 2.067,3 | |
23 | Ulysses, KS | 86,6 | 2.153,9 | |
24 | Montezuma, KS | 81,1 | 2.253,9 | |
25 | Greensburg, KS | 106,3 | 2.341,4 | |
26 | Pratt, KS | 51,5 | 2392 | |
27 | Maize, KS | 123,5 | 2.516,4 | |
28 | El Dorado, KS | 55,0 | 2.571,4 | |
29 | Yates Center, KS | 103,8 | 2.675,2 | |
30 | Ft Scott, KS | 95,0 | 2.770,1 | Anze in Simon |
31 | Weaubleau, MO | 106,8 | 2.876,9 | |
32 | Camdenton, MO | 78,9 | 2.955,8 | |
33 | Jefferson City, MO | 91,9 | 3.047,7 | |
34 | Washintgon, MO | 123,6 | 3.171,2 | |
35 | Mississippi River | 113,6 | 3.284,8 | Smartis d.o.o. |
36 | Greenville, IL | 77,1 | 3,361,9 | |
37 | Effingham, IL | 79,2 | 3.441,2 | |
38 | Sullivan, IN | 116,9 | 3.558,1 | |
39 | Bloomington, IN | 108,3 | 3.666,4 | |
40 | Greensburg, IN | 101,7 | 3.768,1 | Avtolicarstvo in avtokleparstvo Papez s.p. |
41 | Oxford, OH | 79,8 | 3.847,9 | |
42 | Blanchester, OH | 80,8 | 3.928,7 | |
43 | Chillicothe, OH | 93,4 | 4.022,1 | |
44 | Athens, OH | 95,1 | 4.117,2 | |
45 | Ellenboro, WV | 107,1 | 4.224,3 | |
46 | Grafton, WV | 104,3 | 4.328,6 | |
47 | Keyser, WV | 111,6 | 4.440,2 | |
48 | Cumberland, MD | 45,8 | 4.486,0 | |
49 | Hancock, MD | 59,5 | 4.545,5 | |
50 | Rouzerville, PA | 78,0 | 4.623,5 | |
51 | Hanover, PA | 64,8 | 4.688,3 | |
52 | Mt Airy, MD | 58,9 | 4.747,2 | Marjeta Cedilnik |
53 | Odenton, MD | 23,44 | 4.810,6 | |
CILJ | Annapolis | 24,4 |
4835,0 |
CATUELA PROS d.o.o. |
SPONSORS OF TIME STATIONS AT RAAM 2011
SPONSORS OF TIME STATIONS AT RAAM 2009
SPONSORS OF TIME STATIONS AT RAAM 2008
SPONSORS OF TIME STATIONS AT RAAM 2006
I am looking for TIME STATION SPONSORS to help me with the RAAM expenses. If you have no time to do RAAM, you can become involved with >buying< yourself a Time Station and helping me achieve my goal.
There are 54 Time Stations across the USA and at every Time Station we must call in my arrival. Every TS means the next step in a long way across the USA. My team will use all the strength, energy, will and teamwork to help me make it to the finish line as fast as I can. You can become a part of my Team with making a donation and picking for yourself a Time Station you want to sponsor. When I pass you TS, we will send you an e-mail letting you know where I am and how fast I am progressing.
If everything goes according to plan, I should be fast enough to better my best result by 3h, which means getting under 9 days crossing. With the fierce competition in 2016, I don't want to predict anything, only that I will give my best and try to come as close to 8 days as possible. You will also get the postcard from Finishline letting you know the achieved result.
The price of the Time Stations is as follows:
- normal TS: 100$,
- Start, Finish and half-way (Pratt, Kansas): 500$.
Your logo will be posted on www.markobaloh.com in the RAAM 2016 TS sponors spread sheet with the link to your company's website.
E-mail me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and reserve your Time station. You can make a donation through PayPal to the aformentioned e-mail
No. TS |
Time stop (TS) |
TS-TS (km) |
TOTAL (km) |
Sponsor TS |
START | Oceanside,CA | 0 | 0 | Attitude sports |
1 | Lake Henshaw, CA | 86,0 | 86,0 | |
2 | Brawley, CA | 142,3 | 228,4 | |
3 | Blythe , CA | 144,2 | 372,6 | |
4 | Parker, AZ | 82,6 | 455,2 | |
5 | Salome, AZ | 90,1 | 545,2 | |
6 | Congress, AZ | 84,7 | 629,9 | Chris Davies |
7 | Prescott, AZ | 80,7 | 710,6 | SpruzzaMist |
8 | Cottonwood, AZ | 66,3 | 777,0 | |
9 | Flagstaff, AZ | 85,6 | 862,6 | SpruzzaMist |
10 | Tuba City, AZ | 115,4 | 978,0 | Maria Parker |
11 | Kayenta, AZ | 115,6 | 1.093,6 | M. Kelly Rogers |
12 | Mexican Hat, UT | 71,8 | 1.165,4 | Marko Mastrovič |
13 | Montezuma Crk, UT | 63,7 | 1.229,1 | |
14 | Cortez, CO | 80,7 | 1.309,8 | |
15 | Durango, CO | 70,2 | 1.380,0 | Chris Davies |
16 | Pagosa Springs, CO | 112,3 | 1.492,3 | Roger Foote |
17 | South Fork, CO | 77,0 | 1.569,3 | Anonymous |
18 | Alamosa, CO | 75,0 | 1.644,3 | |
19 | La Veta, CO | 93,7 | 1.738,0 | |
20 | Trinidad, CO | 104,7 | 1.842,7 | |
21 | Kim, CO | 114,6 | 1.957,3 | |
22 | Walsh, OK | 110,0 | 2.067,3 | |
23 | Ulysses, KS | 86,6 | 2.153,9 | |
24 | Montezuma, KS | 81,1 | 2.253,9 | |
25 | Greensburg, KS | 106,3 | 2.341,4 | |
26 | Pratt, KS | 51,5 | 2392 | Romaks d.o.o. |
27 | Maize, KS | 123,5 | 2.516,4 | |
28 | El Dorado, KS | 55,0 | 2.571,4 | Tony Wood |
29 | Yates Center, KS | 103,8 | 2.675,2 | |
30 | Ft Scott, KS | 95,0 | 2.770,1 | |
31 | Weaubleau, MO | 106,8 | 2.876,9 | |
32 | Camdenton, MO | 78,9 | 2.955,8 | Stefano Facchini |
33 | Jefferson City, MO | 91,9 | 3.047,7 | |
34 | Washintgon, MO | 123,6 | 3.171,2 | |
35 | Mississippi River | 113,6 | 3.284,8 | Carolyn Wait |
36 | Greenville, IL | 77,1 | 3,361,9 | |
37 | Effingham, IL | 79,2 | 3.441,2 | |
38 | Sullivan, IN | 116,9 | 3.558,1 | |
39 | Bloomington, IN | 108,3 | 3.666,4 | |
40 | Greensburg, IN | 101,7 | 3.768,1 | |
41 | Oxford, OH | 79,8 | 3.847,9 | Anonymous |
42 | Blanchester, OH | 80,8 | 3.928,7 | No Country for Old Man (NCOM) |
43 | Chillicothe, OH | 93,4 | 4.022,1 | Steven Berveling |
44 | Athens, OH | 95,1 | 4.117,2 | Tom Niccum |
45 | West Union, WV | 107,1 | 4.224,3 | Anonymous |
46 | Grafton, WV | 104,3 | 4.328,6 | |
47 | Mc Henry, MD | 111,6 | 4.440,2 | |
48 | Cumberland, MD | 45,8 | 4.486,0 | |
49 | Hancock, MD | 59,5 | 4.545,5 | Chris "Hoppo" Hopkinson |
50 | Rouzerville, PA | 78,0 | 4.623,5 | |
51 | Hanover, PA | 64,8 | 4.688,3 | |
52 | Mt Airy, MD | 58,9 | 4.747,2 | Steven Berveling |
53 | Odenton, MD | 23,44 | 4.810,6 | Jrobic Touring |
CILJ | Annapolis | 24,4 |
4835,0 |
Andrew Thomas |
I am looking for TIME STATION SPONSORS to help me with the RAAM expenses. If you have no time to do RAAM, you can become involved with 'buying' yourself a Time Station and helping me achieve my goal.
There are 54 Time Stations across the USA and at every Time Station we must call in my arrival. Every TS means the next step in a long way across the USA. My team will use all the strength, energy, will and teamwork to help me make it to the finish line as fast as I can. You can become a part of my Team with making a donation and picking for yourself a Time Station you want to sponsor. When I pass you TS, we will send you an e-mail letting you know where I am and how fast I am progressing.
If everything goes according to plan, I should be fast enough to better my best result by 3h, which means getting under 9 days crossing. With the fierce competition in 2017, I don't want to predict anything, only that I will give my best and try to come as close to 8 days as possible. You will also get the postcard from Finishline letting you know the achieved result.
The price of the Time Stations is as follows:
- normal TS: 100€,
- Start, Finish and half-way (Pratt, Kansas): 500€.
Your logo will be posted on www.markobaloh.com in the RAAM 2017 TS sponors spread sheet with the link to your company's website.
E-mail me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and reserve your Time station. You can make a donation through PayPal to the aformentioned e-mail
I am looking for TIME STATION SPONSORS to help me with the RAAM expenses. If you have no time to do RAAM, you can become involved with 'buying' yourself a Time Station and helping me achieve my goal.
There are 54 Time Stations across the USA and at every Time Station we must call in my arrival. Every TS means the next step in a long way across the USA. My team will use all the strength, energy, will and teamwork to help me make it to the finish line as fast as I can. You can become a part of my Team with making a donation and picking for yourself a Time Station you want to sponsor. When I pass you TS, we will send you an e-mail letting you know where I am and how fast I am progressing.
If everything goes according to plan, I should be fast enough to better my best result by 3h, which means getting under 9 days crossing. With the fierce competition in 2019, I don't want to predict anything, only that I will give my best and try to come as close to 8 days as possible. You will also get the postcard from Finishline letting you know the achieved result.
The price of the Time Stations is as follows:
- normal TS: 100€,
- Start, Finish and half-way (Pratt, Kansas): 500€.
Your logo will be posted on www.markobaloh.com in the RAAM 2019 TS sponors spread sheet with the link to your company's website.
E-mail me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and reserve your Time station. You can make a donation through PayPal to the aformentioned e-mail
I am looking for STAGES SPONSORS to help me with the Red Bull Trans Siberian Extreme expenses. Please help me achieve my goal with sponsoring one of the hard stages of RBTSE 2020!
There are 15 Stages across the Russia, in length from 255km to 1.363km. Every Stage means the next step in a long way from Moscow to Vladivostok. My team will use all the strength, energy, will and teamwork to help me make it to the finish line as fast as I can. You can become a part of my Team with making a donation and picking for yourself a Stage you want to sponsor. When I finish your Stage, we will send you an e-mail letting you know where I am and how fast I am progressing.
With the fierce competition in the hardest cycling race in the World, I don't want to predict anything, only that I will give my best and try to fight for the victory until the end.
The price of the Stages are as follows:
- normal Stage: 100€,
- medium Stage (500+km): 250€,
- two King Stages (longer than 1000km): 500€.
Your logo will be posted on www.markobaloh.com in the "RBTSE2020 Stages Sponsorship" spread sheet with the link to your company's website.
E-mail me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and reserve your Stage. You can make a donation through PayPal to the aformentioned e-mail